Why do ER, ICU, && Med Surg nurses always get into it with lab techs. I notice a lot of nurses and lab techs always have issues with each other.

I hate when I draw off a PICC or port for lab and they walk away with the labels so I end up stuck waiting for them to come back or having to re-draw the labs when they come back.
Or when they try to weasel out of drawing because the patient is eating/voiding/on the phone/has family in the room/doesn't want it now/etc. Sorry but I need that aPTT to know if their heparin dosing needs to be changed. It's made worse when lab decides to just leave and doesn't even say they aren't drawing.

Other than that, love my phlebs!

Jan 16, '14

I don't get into it with them. But I find it funny that certain days, when certain people are working, I get a call 5 minutes later that every tube I sent was hemolysized. They didn't even try to spin it, it's not possible. So some days if I'm busy, I saw I need u to come redraw it

I don't get into it with them. But I find it funny that certain days, when certain people are working, I get a call 5 minutes later that every tube I sent was hemolysized. They didn't even try to spin it, it's not possible. So some days if I'm busy, I saw I need u to come redraw it

THIS!

I also got suspicious one day when I got urinalysis results back that said my patients pee was yellow. Made me wonder if they actually looked at it, considering the pee I sent down was pea (hah!) green.

Jan 16, '14

I have never seen an issue between nurses and phlebotomists (that includes both on the floor and in ER). Specifically to the ER, if we are calling phlebotomy, the pt a tough stick, so we are appreciative that they are coming to the ER to get labs on that pt.

I have had some frustrations with the techs in the lab itself...for example, we stuck a pt multiple times to get an ABG, we call 20 minutes later why it did not result and they say "they never got it." Another one of their favorites is "there is no order for this" meanwhile I am staring at the order in the computer. I've never been unprofessional in my interactions with the lab, but they can be difficult at time.

Jan 16, '14

In our ER, the laboratory generally picks up the blood we've drawn with our IV start. I think it works out because of the proximity of the lab to the ER. We don't have a tube system, we carry samples over the old fashioned way, by hand. On patients who need blood drawn, no IV, lab draws them.

So, they will nicely wait if you are starting an IV and take the blood. We work closely together and get along great, I haven't seen any friction at all.

Jan 17, '14

I think a lot comes from a lack of understanding of what phlebotomists and lab technologists do along with some basics of chemistry/microbiology.

I also got suspicious one day when I got urinalysis results back that said my patients pee was yellow. Made me wonder if they actually looked at it, considering the pee I sent down was pea (hah!) green.

How long had the specimen be out of the human body before being sent to lab? Oxidation and bacteria cause changes in the urine which is why some specimens require icing or refrigeration.

I have had some frustrations with the techs in the lab itself...for example, we stuck a pt multiple times to get an ABG, we call 20 minutes later why it did not result and they say "they never got it." Another one of their favorites is "there is no order for this" meanwhile I am staring at the order in the computer. I've never been unprofessional in my interactions with the lab, but they can be difficult at time.

Due to the nature of the specialized data collecting and storing. labs use a variety of computers. Sometimes glitches happen. If they can not get an accession number off the order, the data won't go anywhere and won't do anybody any good if it can not be processed correctly. You don't treat a patient if you don't have hard proof of the results you are treating from. It is probably just as frustrating for those in lab to have to repeat themselves a dozen times over and over to nurses instead of talking to IT to get their computers back to communicating with others.

I also know how easy it is for someone to send an ABG to the wrong lab via transporter or a tube system. It is not always the lab who initiates a lost sample. I doubt if they are hiding samples and would rather result them instead of getting into ***** fits with RNs.

The other thing for phlebotomists is the word "STAT". Not too long ago an RN on this forum commented about having the unit clerk call "STAT" for all procedures. There are probably a dozen other RNs also calling at the same time using the word "STAT" even for the most routine samples. For the phlebotomists who want to do a good job, this has to get frustrating especially when they have to figure out which "STAT" is actually "STAT" so they can prioritize and it will probably **** off the 11 other RNs who feel they now have to ruin the Phlebotomist's day by making a scene or "writing them up".

Jan 17, '14

I'm not sure I've ever seen a phlebotomist in our ER. Not sure why one would be needed, to be honest.

Jan 17, '14

In a small hospital setting, when the phleb says, "I am so busy" they have 1 patient. The nurses have 7-10 patients each and the ER is full.

Jan 17, '14

In the Ers I have been in, the phlebs and RNs work nicely together. The phlebs do report some trouble with med surg staff and some icy but polite behavior from ICU staff.

When questioned, I find that the phlebs complain that the floor RNs are hard to locate and do not respond to requests for assistance by either the phleb or the patient. This results in a feud between the groups that is obviously understandable.

How long had the specimen be out of the human body before being sent to lab? Oxidation and bacteria cause changes in the urine which is why some specimens require icing or refrigeration.

I totally get that. It had probably been out for 5 minutes. Pt had a urostomy, changed her bag at the beginning of starting IV, lab draws, etc, and as soon as there was new pee in the bag, I got it in a cup and sent it, had results 25 minutes later.

Jan 17, '14

We don't really have a problem with our phlebs, but we do have a lot of problems with our lab. We normally only have lab down if it is a difficult stick. Our nurses and medics are pretty good with IV's and blood draws.

Jan 18, '14

Being a former phlebotomist and now a RN I have seen both sides of frustration. As a phleb we had more than just 1 patient. We usually had a whole floor to draw sometimes two or three. We were on a tight schedule to get labs done and resulted before rounds or in a emergent case. We got yelled at by nurses all the time for not getting to the unit right away. Sometimes nurses would get mad if we asked then to turn off the IV pump to draw there patient. We weren't allowed to touch the IVs. Or if they were a difficult stick and we couldn't get the blood RNs would get mad. The biggest insult was "really this is your job it's the only thing you do" which isn't true, phlebs have to do more than just draw blood. Or if the RN didn't get the minimum amount and the patient had to be redrawn the nurses would get upset,especially if it was a nurse draw patient. As a RN now I try to keep in mind the things that I went through. I try to help other nurses understand why it's done a certain way. I also know that some phlebs will say they couldn't get a patients blood after being in the room 2 minutes, especially an isolation room because they don't know how to feel veins with gloves on. Or they can't tear the tip of the glove off, or they see a central line and automatically assume it's a nurse draw. I know because I have assumed this when I went into a room and seen a central line,art line or PICC. Having worked as a CNA,PCT, unit clerk and phlebotomist has really opened my eyes and has showed me how much everyone has to work together as a team. So when the phlebotomist tells me I couldn't get the vein, I ask if the have time to go in with me and we can try and find a vein together. Most times they say yes and we work together, they appreciate the fact that I am not upset and want there input of where they tried and I'm including them. I've had them hold the arm a certain way or help me with a positional vein. If they say no they can't help then I say ok thank you for trying. All anyone in any profession is looking for respect and appreciation. Sorry for the long drawn out response...